Toy kit



Jan. 17, 1956 L.. M. PATTERSON TOY KIT Filed Aug. 24, w55

Lois M. Patterson 1N V EN TOR.

BY @d/way 19mm United States Patent O ToY KIT Lois M. Patterson, Pacific Grove, Calif.

Application August 24, 1953, Serial No. `375,917

` a claims. (ci. 411o) The present invention relates to a toy kit for hobbyists, primarily children, and has more specific reference to a bottle having a restricted neck and a boat located in the receiving space of the bottle.

More particularly, the invention has to do with a kit which is characterized by a bottle, modeling clay to be inserted into the space of the bottle, and an insertable and removable boat characterized by a hull, fore and aft masts and elastic rigging defining a novel boat the overall dimensions of which are such that in inserting and removing the boat the masts, which are foldable, may be retracted to positions in close proximity to the deck of the hull so that the over-all dimensions are temporarily such as to allow passage of the complete boat through the restricted passageway in the bottleneck.

More specifically stated, it is an object of the invention to produce and offer for sale a novel and amusing boatin-the-bottle toy or kitt which has to do with the stated bottle, a rough hull with a jib-boom, masts with attached yards, requisite pieces of elastic thread forming the so-called rigging, and a batch of modeling clay which may be used in forming a suitable base for the hull within the contines of the bottle.

More specically, the object of the invention is to provide an insertable and removable two-masted hull or boat wherein a lengthwise elastic band or thread has its ends joined with fore and aft portions of the hull and its intermediate portion operatively associated with the upper ends of rigid masts for exerting tension on the masts and moving the same, which are detachably pinned to the deck, to their normal perpendicular or erect positions.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a view in section and elevation of the complete ready-to-insert boat which shows in full and dotted lines the manner in which the folding thread-biased masts function.

Figure 2 is a view showing the bottle in section and the boat in elevation and illustrating the manner in which the masts are folded down to out-of-the-way or compact positions to allow the boat to be either inserted or removed by way of the restricted neck.

Figure 3 is a view in section and elevation illustrating the boat in the bottle, this being the finished product which may be used as a mantlepiece ornament or for some other decorative purpose by the usual juvenile model maker.

Referring now to the drawings with the aid of reference numerals and lead lines, the body of the bottle is of any appropriate size and shape and it is denoted generally by the numeral 4. The restricted neck is` denoted at 6. The boat is preferably one which is sold in knockdown form and which is made up of separate components. To

this end, the boat is characterized by an appropriate rough hull` 8 having a iiat bottom 10 and a suitably shaped deck 12 and a jib-boom 14 the outer end of which is provided with a keeper notch 15. At longitudinally spaced points are appropriate recesses or sockets 14 into which suitable jointing pins 16 are fitted. The pins are preferably U-shaped and secured to the lower ends of the rigid uprights herein referred to as masts 18 and 20. The masts are provided with suitably attached yards or cross-spars 22-22. The upper ends of the masts are preferably provided with keeper notches 24.

The elastic tensioning, biasing and retaining means is denoted by the numeral 26 and it comprises an elastic thread of appropriate tensile strength. The forward downwardly inclined end portion 23 is formed with a` knot 30 which is detachably joined with the notched end 15. The intermediate portion 32 is stretched between and joined With the notched upper ends 24-24 of the masts 18 and 2t). The rearwardly inclined end portion 34 has its terminal portion 36 passing through an opening providedtherefor in the hulll with the terminal `formed into a retaining knot 3S. The numerals dil- 4t2 designate auxiliary inelastic threads or bands which are joined at their lower ends to the deck and at their upper ends to the intermediate portions of the respective holding mast. These stretchless threads are referred to as rigging due to the manner in which they are associated with the sparequipped masts. It is within the purview of this invention to also include sails (not shown) on the masts if desired. The idea is, however, to provide the knockdown components which go to make up the model boat and to include these in a kit which also include the bottle. Then, too, a suitable batch of modeling clay will be provided and this will be placed in the bottle in appropriate form as shown at i2 in Figure 3 in particular.

The contents that go to make up the kit wiil be prepared for sale in an appropriate cardboard or equivalent box. The instructions on the boX or elsewhere will emphasize or stress the unique pop up nature of the folding threadtensioned masts. By anchoring the elastic thread at the fore and aft ends of the hull, the masts are obviously caused to pop up to the desired position as shown in Figure 3. ln Figure 2 the masts are shown folded down close to the deck which is the position taken thereby when the boat is either inserted or removed. The principle of the masts swinging back automatically to their erect or perpendicular positions after the boat is in the space of the bottle is, of course, the outstanding aspect of the invention.

Generally, the huli is made all of one piece of wood and need not, of course, be made in sections. The invention, while it is ornamental, is for the purpose of furnishing creative hobby for children and perhaps adults too.

The details of construction of the composite boat, the knockdown nature thereof, and the pop up characteristic of the tensioned masts will be clear, it is believed, by studying the description in conjunction with the drawings.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. in combination, a bottle having a restricted neck, an insert'able and removable boat, said boat embodying a hull, rigid fore and aft masts having their lower ends detachably and hingedly joined to the deck of the hull whereby they may be folded against the deck in a compact and convenient manner, and means for swinging the fore and aft masts; eacl 'mast :ai pin Iat its, lower end hiigedlyv connected with the deck of ,said

hl ,iii a manner' 'to permit itfiemastslt'be mnially 'and bodily" SWng down 'and foldedy toA al position'in compact relation" in respect to saidV deick'ifrneans '-for swinfgixigfth'e masts to and retaining "the 'same infthei'rl cst'o'rnfaiy posi- 3. Asfa new article of'maiiiifetiifia'boat for insertable'fl and vremcvable use i1i"`as's'ociatin""'witl afbttlen lhaving"arestric'ted neck comprising 'a hull'having a jib boom at its bow end, the outer end of said boom having y and thus providing hingedK connections allowing said masts to be folded into compact and convenient relation with the deck of the hu1l,and elastic band having its respective ends connected/to the respective forward and rearward end portions .sof-the hulLandl having Yits intermediatev Porti@ Operatiyely @numeri-t withtthe ,supper ends of the respective masts by wayA of the keeper notches in said upperV ends.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS BnesteroV ning 21, 19244 Rosenberg 'l Mar. 20, 17951 `Page 104 of the Novelties Catalog, 1948, Smith & Co. y l t 

